Batumi Olympiad

[Gordon Cadden]

That's a rather weak Belgian team on paper?

Despite bordering the chess powerhouses of France, Netherlands and Germany, Belgium has never produced that many top players. The top two players, Gurevich and Chuchelov are both ex Soviets.

O'Kelly de Galway is Flemish, and not Irish, as the name suggests. When Ireland held their very first International Tournament, they sent him an Invitation, out of respect for his name. He graciously accepted the Invitation.

[Roger de Coverly]

A bit strange that none seem available for this event?

Rows between players and national federations are not uncommon. To complicate matters, I think for domestic purposes Belgium actually has three chess Federations, one for each of the French, Flemish and German language groups.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Rows between players and national federations are not uncommon."

True - it's not just England!

[Leonard Barden]

England heading for 2.5-1.5 at the moment, with Gawain winning from 1 d4 d5 2 Bg5 and the others level. Not great, but better than the gold medallists who are in some trouble against Georgia 3. So has an edge, Caruana and Robson are level, but Shankland is a pawn down in an ending of queens and knights.

[Kevin Thurlow]

I thought a Timor Leste player had produced a great shock result, but I think the result was recorded wrongly, looking at the position... Match 82, board 3

[Jonathan Rogers]

USA safely back on course, it seems.

I think we are heading for 3 or 3.5: 3.5 would be a good result even if they are missing Hazard, Courtois and Felliani.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Remember Vitiugov v O'Donnell, next time you play Keith.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Chinese still not firing on all cylinders and probably looking at another 3-1. Not Li Chao's fault this time, but they are struggling with Black and must have been very pleased to be offered a draw on board three.

[Leonard Barden]

Looks like the big upset today could be Uzbekistan v top seeded Russia in the women's Olympiad, where at the moment Kosteniuk has drawn, board 2 is level, but Gunina and Pogonina are both losing on boards 3 and 4.

[Thomas Rendle]

Armenia struggling as well?

[Roger de Coverly]

Remember Vitiugov v O'Donnell, next time you play Keith.

It's a tempo ahead on a rarely played line of the Advance French, namely 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 Bxc5 with Qg4 to follow.

[JustinHorton]

Tutisani draws with Caruana.

[John Moore]

Great result for Alex Baburin in the Russia-Ireland match.

[Tim Harding]

Great result for Alex Baburin in the Russia-Ireland match.

Indeed. Over here we are very disappointed that the commentary was almost exclusively about USA v Georgia 3, not looking at that game until about 3.25pm. We might yet get a second draw.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Chinese still not firing on all cylinders and probably looking at another 3-1. Not Li Chao's fault this time, but they are struggling with Black and must have been very pleased to be offered a draw on board three.

I read that a bit wrong. They have only struggled with one black per match, have won with 3.5 today and have 100% with White. Still don't look as intimidating as in 2014, mind.